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From Inside Santum Sanctorum

People who dismiss temples as useless intrusion into the landscape have neither a sense of history nor an appetite for it. It is around these temples built as per agama sastras the civilizations flourished and still do. Most of the temples of the past were built by painstakingly by Kings and their men under guidance of saints and sages and some times even as per the dictates of the God Himself. In terms of architectural beauty, expanse, structural design and strength, endurance and sanctity there is no parallel. They were not built with any commercial motive or as summer resorts. They were built out of sheer devotion for Lord and for the benefit, pleasure and enjoyment of people who lived then and the generations to follow. Sadly today’s generation has forgotten all about the treasure trove lying in their back yard and searching elsewhere for happiness, peace and joy in vain. Our fate is like the man living on the banks of Ganges looking up the sky and waiting for any signs of rains so that he can take bath. Let us take a whirlwind tour of some of them in this brief sacred space.

Somnath temple situated in the west coast of Gujarat is one of twelve Jyotirlings of Shiva.

This temple was invaded by least 18 times by various alien rulers who came to plunder the wealth which was believed to be huge. Once when Khilji’s team was ransacking the inner sanctorum, they tried to pull out the Shiva lingam but it refused to budge. Khilji ordered his soldiers to break all the side support. When this was done the lingam to everyone’s surprise hung in the mid-air without support. It is only when some one accidentally displaced the brick in the ceiling did it stir. It was later found that the metallic lingam was encompassed by lode stone which because of its magnetic properties held the lingam hanging in mid-air.

At Sarangapani temple in Kumbakonam (Tanjore) the Lord is in a semi reclining position. There is a reason for this. The Lord was originally in fully reclining like Ranganatha in Sri Rangam until Tirumalisai Azhwar visited the place to have a darshan. The Azhwar looked at relaxing posture and sang thus ‘Are your legs so tired after walking so long during Ram Avatara that you have chosen to lie down here. Or is it that bodily strain of lifting the entire earth out of water during Varaha Avatara that has made you lie down. Please Lord, I want to know the reason for you coming to the banks of Cauvery and taking a partial nap. Will you Kesava, get up and answer me?’

The Lord tried to get up when Azhwar said that’s enough and that is why the Lord is in semi-reclining position there.

At Kanchipuram near Chennai there is a temple dedicated Varadarajan. In this temple an idol of Nammalvar is also installed in a separate place. Nammalvar hand is shown pointing to his heart instead of Namaste posture or abhaya hasta posture (hand gesture that assures fear not.).

The idol was meant to represent Azhwar who asks his mind to come along and enjoy the God’s beatific presence. The sculptor originally carved out the right palm in abhaya hasta posture (facing outward) but it turned around to point to Azhwar’s chest. This happened not once but seven times when the sculptor gave up his effort assuming it was the God’s will.

Another story also concerns our Tirumalisai Azhwar. He and his disciple Kanikannan were staying near Thiruvenka temple in Kanchipuram (here too Lord is seen lying on Adi Seshan, the snake bed). At that time a old woman served the saint and his disciple with such dedication that Azhwar transformed her into a beautiful, youthful maiden. The king of the land soon fell in love with her and got married to her. It was not long before the king realized that while he was getting old day by day, his wife looked young as ever. He asked her the secret and she disclosed that it was because of Azhwar’s grace. She suggested that the king should approach Azhwar through Kanikannan. Kanikannan was approached but he said Azhwar will never condescend to come to palace. The king then asked Kanikannan himself to use his powers to transform the king’s form. Kanikannan refused upon which the king ordered him to leave the land. Kanikannan reported the development tp Ahzwar who also decided to leave the place. But before that he went to the Lord in the temple and sang ‘Look Lord we are leaving this place. May you also fold up your snake bed and leave with us.’

What next? The Gods from all the other temples in Kanchipuram too packed up and moved out along with Azhwars. Kanchipuram was now hit by one calamity after another. It was beset by epidemic, drought, food shortage and so on. Finally the king as per the advise of scholars went to the Azhwar and begged forgiveness and pleaded him to return which he did. The normalcy got restored once again. The Lord of the temple is hailed as ‘Yatotkaari’ Perumal which means the Lord who does as requested by the devotees. Even today people visit in large numbers to get their prayers answered.